Reengagement in Meaningful Occupations During the Transition From Hospital to Home for People With Acquired Brain Injury and Their Family Caregivers
Conference Paper

Overview

abstract

OBJECTIVE:To explore people's lived experiences of reengagement in meaningful occupations during the hospital-to-home transition phase after acquired brain injury (ABI). METHOD:Participants included 20 people with ABI and 18 family caregivers. On the basis of a phenomenological approach, data collection entailed in-depth semistructured interviews at predischarge and 1 and 3 months postdischarge. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts involved open, axial, and selective coding techniques. RESULTS:Two primary themes emerged from the analysis: desired versus actual participation and struggle for independence. Theme 1 depicts the key occupations of importance to people and their caregivers during transition and explores desired and actual participation in occupations. Theme 2 highlights the struggle to regain independence and the differing perspectives of the 2 participant groups concerning this process. CONCLUSION:Clinical practice implications relate to client-centered goal setting, contexts and environments in which therapy occurs, and provision of information to patients and families.